Team building has been part of businesses for years. Love it or hate it depending on the budget; pretty much anything is possible. But how do you ensure that business benefit is achieved along with a great day out.
The types of events at present are more integrated and sophisticated than those available just five years ago; providing excellent opportunities to gain an insight into group and individual behaviour. By pulling individuals out of the office environment they are out of their comfort zone and may display traits you may never have previously seen; highlighting the leaders of tomorrow.
So what constitutes an excellent day out?
Fun! The activity needs to appeal to individuals so they will be receptive to the day and be open to learning new tasks. Use the day as an extension of the training programme and an opportunity to learn new skills as it is more memorable within a team building environment. This is because there are greater opportunities to capture the imagination and hence increase the longevity of learning.
Objectives! It is important that the day has defined objectives. Ensure the link is explicit between the business objectives and the activity. Many businesses looking for fresh and fun ideas for their team days are taking up the idea of tying this into CSR initiatives within the business.
Make a Difference! Corporate Social Responsibility is growing in importance as a key asset for recruitment and retention within a business. Research by The Employer Branding Consultancy supports this, highlighting CSR as one of the most important factors when joining an organisation. The growing importance of this area has affected the entire industry; indeed, government has implemented aims to mainstream the concept in the near future.
Tying team building to CSR can also be beneficial internally, reducing the cynicism some individuals have towards such activities and also ensure individuals get something out of the project.
As activities and ideas to ‘build great teams’ become more extreme it is important that organisers remember the point of the day in the first place. Stick to well defined objectives, embrace the opportunity to make a difference to the community and ensure you are highlighting the talent of tomorrow. But remember, most of all enjoy your day!!
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